Interview with Dominique Falla

Dominique Falla is author, speaker and tactile typographer. She has worked with clients like Google, Penguin Books, Wired Magazine and more! In this interview she shares her latest projects, insight into her process and what's on the horizon for the rest of the year.

My research focus is on Tactile Typography, and I have a doctorate on that topic, believe it or not? The study and work I completed for my doctorate have afforded me the opportunity to travel the world and make pieces of tactile typography for clients including Google, Woolworths, Penguin Books and Frost*Design. I’m also planning a tactile typography book next year which showcases the work of the top 20 tactile typography practitioners around the world.

I am also the founder of the Typism book and conference here on the Gold Coast. I’m passionate about helping to inspire and educate people about the craft of lettering and typography. In recent years, Typism has grown into a global community of letter lovers from all over the planet. We have had book submissions from Siberia, Nepal, the Middle East, Europe and all over the Americas. Lettering is huge in South America. I would love to do a tour there one day. We are all united by our love of letterforms.

Can you describe your process when creating a piece of tactile typography?

I work with the client to come up with a concept, and the materials can sometimes suggest a direction. I am a huge advocate of journaling, and I write and draw in my journal every single day. Using the pen and hand makes a different connection with my subconscious than working on a computer, so I always start there. I will write down and sketch ideas for a few hours and let my subconscious do all the work.

[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”10″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” icon=”” width=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]Once the client approves, I usually vectorise the lettering in Adobe Illustrator, buy all the materials and make a start. My methods are quite slow and laborious, so it is very meditative when I’m making a piece. I watch a lot of movies on my laptop while I hammer nails or wind string. Then I photograph the piece, clean it up in Photoshop and send it to the client. I don’t suggest digital is better or worse than analogue methods; I am fairly fluent in both and I go between digital and analogue all the time.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”30″ bottom_margin=”10″ sep_color=”” icon=”” width=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]

You have many side projects – which are your favourite? Is there one that takes priority over everything?

Typism is taking priority at the moment, but I also love making Tactile Typography and working with really interesting clients.

[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”10″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” icon=”” width=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]I am also writing a book called Creativity Fitness which explains how to juggle all these creative projects, build your creativity fitness and get major things done while being “too busy” for anything. I have taught myself how to be extremely productive and time efficient, so I felt it was time to write down how I do it because people are always asking me “how do you find the time to get some much done?”. Creativity Fitness will be published at the end of the year by Balboa Press.[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”30″ bottom_margin=”10″ sep_color=”” icon=”” width=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]

What are you working on this year?

At the moment, Typism is ramping up to take over the next two years of my time. I am building a membership site where I hope to share lots of resources and lettering courses. The conference is great, but only 300 Australians can attend. Typism is much bigger than that now, so I am developing ways to connect with the 35,000 people who love the work we share with the books all over the world. Over 500 people completed a survey recently telling me all their creative struggles and frustrations so the membership site will hopefully solve those frustrations for a lot of people and help move them from confused beginner all the way through to professional creative.